The Associated Press: on Health Care
Conner Eldridge:
Improve ObamaCare rather than distractions about repeal
Senate Democratic hopeful Conner Eldridge is calling efforts to repeal the federal health overhaul a "distraction," and says the focus should be on improving the law. The former U.S. attorney on Wednesday stopped short of saying whether he would have
voted for the health care law when it was approved in 2010."I think efforts at repeal right now are a distraction," Eldridge said after announcing his candidacy. "I do think there are flaws in the law, there are problems with the law, and
I would be focused and will be focused as a senator on correcting and fixing some of the real problems that are in that law."
Boozman and the rest of the state's all-GOP congressional delegation have repeatedly called for the law's repeal.
Boozman unseated Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln in 2010, in a race that focused primarily on her support of the law.
Source: Associated Press on 2016 Arkansas Senate race
Sep 10, 2015
Elena Kagan:
Helped plan legal defense of ObamaCare
Conservative interest groups and Republican lawmakers want Justice Elena Kagan off the health care case, complaining that the Justice Department has not fully revealed Kagan's involvement in planning the response to challenges to the law. Kagan was
Obama's solicitor general before he nominated her last year to take the seat of Justice John Paul Stevens. She testified during her confirmation hearing in 2010 that she "attended at least one meeting where the existence of the litigation was briefly
mentioned, but none where any substantive discussion of the litigation occurred." Kagan left the administration in August, about five months after the health care overhaul became law. She said she would not take part in cases in which she "participated
in formulating the government's litigating position."
Conservatives point to Kagan's email exchange about an upcoming vote on the legislation in the House of Representatives. "I hear they have the votes, Larry!! Simply amazing," she said.
Source: Mark Sherman, Associated Press in Salt Lake Tribune
Nov 26, 2011
Blanche Lambert Lincoln:
Worked to ensure the overhaul helped small businesses
At one point in the debate, Boozman and Lincoln were allowed to pose each other questions. Boozman asked Lincoln to defend her vote for the federal health care overhaul. Lincoln said she worked to make sure the overhaul didn't include a
government-run insurance option and helped small businesses. "Where there are places to correct in this bill, I will work hard to make it better. The fact is I'm hearing from Arkansans that there were a lot of things we needed to do and
I think this got us started," Lincoln said.
Boozman said he voted against the overhaul because he heard overwhelming opposition from Arkansans to the legislation. "Something needs to be done, but the idea that we've got to do something
[in Congress] and that's the solution is what I think is wrong with government," Boozman said.
Source: Associated Press coverage of 2010 Arkansas Senate debate
Sep 10, 2010
John Boozman:
Solution like overhaul is what's wrong with government
At one point in the debate, Boozman and Lincoln were allowed to pose each other questions. Boozman asked Lincoln to defend her vote for the federal health care overhaul. Lincoln said she worked to make sure the overhaul didn't include a
government-run insurance option and helped small businesses. "Where there are places to correct in this bill, I will work hard to make it better. The fact is I'm hearing from Arkansans that there were a lot of things we needed to do and
I think this got us started," Lincoln said.
Boozman said he voted against the overhaul because he heard overwhelming opposition from Arkansans to the legislation. "Something needs to be done, but the idea that we've got to do something
[in Congress] and that's the solution is what I think is wrong with government," Boozman said.
Source: Associated Press coverage of 2010 Arkansas Senate debate
Sep 10, 2010
Rudy Giuliani:
No socialized medicine; give vouchers to the poor
Rudy Giuliani accused his Democratic rivals of embracing health care plans that would amount to socialized medicine. Responding to comments in the first Democratic primary debate Thursday night, Giuliani claimed
Democrats favor “mandatory” universal health care and the plans would only exacerbate the cost of care by putting the system in the hands of bureaucrats. “They’re moving toward socialized medicine so fast, it’ll make your head spin,”
Giuliani said, adding that private solutions could help bring down the cost of care. “When we want to cover poor people, as we should, we give them vouchers.”
Democratic candidates renewed their calls for universal health care during a debate in South Carolina, saying that a new system would help streamline costs and cover the nation’s 45 million uninsured.
Source: Mike Baker, Associated Press, apnews.com
Apr 27, 2007
Betty Castor:
Fight for a meaningful prescription drug plan
Q: Do you approve of Bush’s attempt to reduce the cost of prescription drugs?CASTOR: The new Medicare law did plenty to enrich the drug companies, but nothing to actually lower drug costs for most seniors. In fact, the new law actually tied Medicare’s
hands from negotiating for lower prices and it denied our seniors the right to buy high-quality, low-cost drugs from Canada. The government should be required to negotiate for the lowest prices possible. And seniors should get help locating safe and
affordable drugs in Canada, until they can get them here at home. I will fight for a meaningful prescription drug plan - one that gives seniors real savings, and doesn’t make false promises.
MARTINEZ: I support Bush’s plan to provide prescription
drug benefits to millions of Americans. It is a good first step in lowering the costs of prescription drugs for seniors. I support any good idea to reduce drug costs so long as we can assure the safety of the drug supply for patients.
Source: Florida Senate Debate, Q&A by Associated Press
Oct 24, 2004
Mel Martinez:
Support Bush’s plan to provide prescription drug benefits
Q: Do you approve of Bush’s attempt to reduce the cost of prescription drugs?CASTOR: The new Medicare law did plenty to enrich the drug companies, but nothing to actually lower drug costs for most seniors. In fact, the new law actually tied Medicare’s
hands from negotiating for lower prices and it denied our seniors the right to buy high-quality, low-cost drugs from Canada. The government should be required to negotiate for the lowest prices possible. And seniors should get help locating safe and
affordable drugs in Canada, until they can get them here at home. I will fight for a meaningful prescription drug plan - one that gives seniors real savings, and doesn’t make false promises.
MARTINEZ: I support Bush’s plan to provide prescription
drug benefits to millions of Americans. It is a good first step in lowering the costs of prescription drugs for seniors. I support any good idea to reduce drug costs so long as we can assure the safety of the drug supply for patients.
Source: Florida Senate Debate, Q&A by Associated Press
Oct 24, 2004
Denise Majette:
Voted against the drug bill set up by the drug companies
ISAKSON: Isakson focused on his plan to expand Medicare to more people and create healthcare savings accounts for workers who make tax-free contributions.
MAJETTE: Majette, who also voiced her support for Medicare and Medicaid programs, said she voted against the Medicare prescription drug bill because it “was set up by the drug companies” and accused Isakson of pandering to big corporations.
Source: [Xref Isakson] GA Senate Debate, in Associated Press
Oct 12, 2004
Johnny Isakson:
Expand Medicare and create healthcare savings accounts
ISAKSON: Isakson focused on his plan to expand Medicare to more people and create healthcare savings accounts for workers who make tax-free contributions.
MAJETTE: Majette, who also voiced her support for Medicare and Medicaid programs, said she voted against the Medicare prescription drug bill because it “was set up by the drug companies” and accused Isakson of pandering to big corporations.
Source: GA Senate Debate, in Associated Press
Oct 12, 2004
Al Sharpton:
Avoid privatized health system
Q: How, if at all, would you change the new prescription drug benefit for the elderly?A: I support a national single-payer plan. I think it will not be fixed until we have health care for all seniors.
I think that we’re moving on the last bill toward a privatized health system and I think the only answer is a universal single-payer plan.
Source: Associated Press policy Q&A, “Medicare”
Jan 25, 2004
Dennis Kucinich:
Tax employers to pay for single-payer plan
Q: How, if at all, would you change the new prescription drug benefit for the elderly?A: I will include complete coverage of prescription drugs in a single-payer plan that provides every man,
woman, and child with comprehensive health coverage from whatever doctors they choose, and does so through a tax on employers that is lower than what employers who now provide coverage pay on average.
Source: Associated Press policy Q&A, “Medicare”
Jan 25, 2004
Howard Dean:
Rx plan: govt. buying; reimportation; price competition
Q: How, if at all, would you change the new prescription drug benefit for the elderly?A: As president, a high and early legislative priority of my new administration would be to improve the prescription drug benefit to create one that is affordable,
federally administered and for all of America’s seniors; uses the government’s buying power on behalf of 41 million seniors to negotiate and drive down drug prices;
contains meaningful cost containment including reimportation of safe, effective medicines and the use of Preferred Drug Lists to ensure affordable premiums and co-payments; assures stability of coverage; and promotes price competition and real
pharmaceutical innovation by supporting drug therapeutic equivalency and cost-effectiveness studies, not by setting drug prices through the federal government.
Source: Associated Press policy Q&A, “Medicare”
Jan 25, 2004
John Edwards:
Bush’s Rx plan helps HMOs-help seniors instead
Q: How, if at all, would you change the new prescription drug benefit for the elderly?A: When I am president, we will write a prescription drug bill for the American people -- a law that benefits seniors not the HMOs and insurance companies.
We will bring drug costs down by allowing reimportation, stopping wasteful and misleading drug advertising, and using the government’s purchasing power. And we will give seniors a better, more secure drug benefit.
Source: Associated Press policy Q&A, “Medicare”
Jan 25, 2004
John Kerry:
Day 1: Make health care a right, not a privilege
Q: After the inauguration, what would be your first action as president?A: I will send to Congress a health care plan that stops spiraling costs, covers every child in America,
and makes it possible for every American to get the same health care as any member of Congress. Making health care a right and not a privilege is something worth fighting for.
Source: Associated Press policy Q&A, “DAY 1”
Jan 25, 2004
John Kerry:
Don’t push seniors into HMOs; change Bush Rx plan
Q: How, if at all, would you change the new prescription drug benefit for the elderly?A: I will change the benefit so that it: rewards employers who are offering retiree health benefits rather than undermining them;
does not push seniors into HMOs; includes real cost containment and improves protections for low-income Americans.
Source: Associated Press policy Q&A, “Medicare”
Jan 25, 2004
Joseph Lieberman:
Universal benefit to all seniors-no $12B for HMOs
Q: How, if at all, would you change the new prescription drug benefit for the elderly?A: We need to deliver a drug benefit -- but we need to do it right, by providing a universal benefit to all seniors.
We should allow real importation of prescription drugs; eliminate premium support demonstration projects; allow Medicare to use its purchasing power to achieve savings in the cost of prescription drugs; and eliminate the $12 billion slush fund for HMOs.
Source: Associated Press policy Q&A, “Medicare”
Jan 25, 2004
Wesley Clark:
Bush’s Rx plan helps HMOs-help seniors instead
Q: How, if at all, would you change the new prescription drug benefit for the elderly?A: Unfortunately, the bill signed by President Bush does too little for America’s seniors and too much to reward HMOs and large drug companies.
We ought to give the government the power to negotiate with drug companies through the free market to get bulk discounts on popular drugs.
We need to do more to reduce barriers to low-cost generic drugs entering the market and prevent drug companies from exploiting legal loopholes to keep them out. And we need to allow seniors to import safe, low-cost prescription drugs from Canada.
Most importantly, I want to see a real drug bill that strengthens Medicare instead of undermining it by forcing seniors into HMOs.
Source: Associated Press policy Q&A, “Medicare”
Jan 25, 2004
Ron Kirk:
Continue safety testing of adult medicines given to children
Ron Kirk asked a Washington lawmaker to “intervene directly” in a plan to suspend safety testing of adult medicines commonly given to children. “I urge you in the strongest possible terms to use your considerable influence to persuade the FDA to preserve
the pediatric rule that provides such critical safety and dosage information for parents, physicians and children. Suspension of this rule would pit the pharmaceutical industry’s profits against the protection of our children.”
Source: Lisa Falkenberg, Associated Press
Mar 22, 2002
Al Gore:
Claim that drugmakers spend more on ads than R&D isn’t true
The vice president made an attack on drug companies that conflicts with independent studies. Gore claimed that drug makers “are now spending more money on advertising and promotion -- you see all these ads -- than they
are on research and development.”In fact, the industry spent between $5.8 billion and $8.3 billion on promotion and $21 billion on research and development in 1998. There has been a 20-fold increase in TV drug advertising over the past six years.
Source: Associated Press analysis of St. Louis debate
Oct 17, 2000
Al Gore:
Opposes Medical Savings Accounts; they segment out the sick
Q: Should the government let everyone set aside money in a tax-free medical savings account to help pay for their health care? A: I am opposed to Republican proposals to broaden medical savings accounts. These proposals have the potential to
segment healthy populations from the sick in the insurance market and therefore leave sicker populations with higher health care costs. We already have some demonstrations on MSAs today and should wait and see what kind of impact they have.
Source: Associated Press
Oct 11, 2000
George W. Bush:
Medical Savings Accounts part of affordable access & choice
Q: Should the government let everyone set aside money in a tax-free medical savings account to help pay for their health care? A: I believe every American should have access to quality, affordable health care by giving consumers
better information about health care plans, providing more choices such as medical savings accounts and changing tax laws to help more people, such as the uninsured and the self-employed, afford health insurance.“
Source: Associated Press
Oct 11, 2000
John Hagelin:
80% reimbursement for Medicare prescriptions
Q: Would elderly people with low incomes get all the prescription drugs they need at no cost to them under your proposals?A: My Medicare policy includes 80% reimbursements for those prescription drugs that have been scientifically proven to be
effective. Medicare will negotiate the lowest prices for drugs: My prescription drug benefit will not become a form of corporate welfare for the pharmaceutical industry - nor lead to over-prescription of drugs.
Source: Associated Press
Sep 8, 2000
John Hagelin:
100% reimbursement for preventive health care
The side effects of prescription drugs have become the fourth leading cause of death in America. Cost effective preventive health care will be 100% reimbursable under my plan.
Source: Associated Press
Sep 8, 2000
Ralph Nader:
Medicare prescriptions covered under universal health care
Q: Would elderly people with low incomes get all the prescription drugs they need at no cost to them under your proposals?A: Yes, under a system of universal health care. Price restraints should be placed on all drugs especially developed with
taxpayer money, and multiple licenses should be issued for those drugs in order to stimulate competition and bring prices down. The Medicare authorities should negotiate lower drug prices, as the V.A. and the Pentagon are already doing.
Source: Associated Press
Sep 8, 2000
Ralph Nader:
Price restraints on drugs; limit profiteering
The pharmaceutical industry is suffering from a malaise where corporate profits are more highly valued than people’s health. Price restraints should be placed on all drugs especially developed with taxpayer money,
and multiple licenses should be issued for those drugs in order to stimulate competition and bring prices down. In addition, the government should react to corporate profiteering by developing needed drugs itself.
Source: Associated Press
Sep 8, 2000
George W. Bush:
Use Texas model for Bill of Rights: access; choice; appeals
Bush already has enacted a patients’ bill of rights in Texas that is considered a model by the AMA. A significant piece of the Texas bill of rights legislation, giving patients the right the sue insurance companies, became law without Bush’s
signature. Among the Texas law’s provisions: - Patients can appeal denials of care to an independent review panel and in some cases, sue their HMO if they are hurt because the HMO denied or delayed the approval of treatment.
- Women have direct
access to their obstetrician and gynecologist and are covered for a minimum of 48 hours in the hospital after giving birth.
- Employees have the right to choose their own doctor, even outside their health plan, so long as they are willing to pay
additional costs of that coverage.
- People have access to their own specialists.
- Final medical decisions must be made by doctors, not HMOs.
- In emergencies, HMOs by law must make decisions about coverage within two hours.
Source: Associated Press
Aug 31, 2000
Joseph Lieberman:
Patient Bill of Rights: access; choice; privacy; appeals
The Gore-Lieberman proposal makes several guarantees, among them that: - Access to hospital emergency room care and specialists if necessary.
- Medical decisions are made by doctors, not insurance companies or HMOs.
- Doctors can tell patients
about all options, not just the least expensive ones.
- Medical records are kept private; no discrimination based on genetic information.
- People can appeal a decision to deny coverage made by their health plans and sue their health plans.
Source: Associated Press
Aug 31, 2000
Dick Cheney:
Prescription drug benefits for Medicare recipients
Cheney said he opposed some worthy social programs while in Congress because the country couldn’t afford them, given budget deficits and the need to increase military spending to fight the Cold War. Given the current economic climate, Cheney said: “We’re
now in a position to be able to look at doing some things from the compassionate standpoint.” He mentioned prescription drug benefits for Medicare recipients, something his fellow conservatives fought for some time before offering a plan of their own.
Cheney said he opposed some worthy social programs while in Congress because the country couldn’t afford them, given budget deficits and the need to increase military spending to fight the Cold War. Given the current economic climate, Cheney said: “We’re
now in a position to be able to look at doing some things from the compassionate standpoint.” He mentioned prescription drug benefits for Medicare recipients, something his fellow conservatives fought for some time before offering a plan of their own.
Source: D. Ian Hopper, Associated Press
Jul 26, 2000
Al Gore:
Pharmaceutical profits are ‘out of line’
Al Gore blamed pharmaceutical companies yesterday for profits that are “way out of line” and plugged his own drug-payment plan. Gore put the drug companies at the center of his argument for expanding Medicare coverage to include prescription drugs.
Profits are good for encouraging investors, Gore said, but drug companies are “going far beyond that. They’re going to the point that the margins are way out of line with what most other industries and most other lines of business believe is normal
and adequate. They’re using the market power to dictate prices that are way above what competition would set them at.“ Gore has proposed adding a Medicare prescription drug benefit and letting uninsured Americans 55 to 65 buy into Medicare coverage.
His drug plan would offer free coverage for low-income recipients, catastrophic coverage for all and an optional cost-sharing benefit for others with premiums of $44 a month when phased in.
Source: Associated Press in New York Times
Apr 26, 2000
Al Gore:
Expand Children’s Health Insurance Program for working poor
On Coverage: Expand Children’s Health Insurance Program, which subsidizes premiums for working poor. Plan would offer subsides to more children, plus their parents, in families that earn too
much now to qualify but not enough to afford private insurance on their own. Also would allow children of wealthier families into the program, with families paying the full cost.
Source: Associated Press
Mar 14, 2000
Al Gore:
25% tax credit for health insurance; HMO appeals
On Tax breaks:25% tax credit for people who buy private health insurance because they don’t get it at work. People who do get insurance at work would also get a 25% tax credit on premiums-if the company has fewer than 50 employees and joins a
“purchasing coalition” to negotiate affordable rates.On HMOs:Supports right of patients to “independent appeal” when denied treatment, guaranteed coverage of emergency room treatment, and “redress” for actions of the HMO, & other protections.
Source: Associated Press
Mar 14, 2000
Al Gore:
Medicare option at age 55; more Rx coverage
On Medicare: Add prescription drug benefit and let uninsured Americans aged 55 to 65 buy into Medicare coverage. Drug plan would offer free coverage for low-income recipients,
catastrophic coverage for all, and optional cost-sharing benefit for others with premiums of $44 a month when phased in.
Source: Associated Press
Mar 14, 2000
George W. Bush:
HMOs should cover emergency room; & gynecology directly
On HMOs: Favors requirement that patients be covered for hospital emergency care, that women be able to go directly to gynecologist, and patients with ongoing illnesses not be forced to change
doctors, among other protections. Also favors independent review process and ultimate avenue for legal action by patients, but says any federal move on this front should not supersede protections in place in states.
Source: Associated Press
Mar 14, 2000
Al Gore:
$300B over 15 years to keep Medicare solvent
I am deeply committed to keeping Medicare strong for the future. When I became vice president in 1993, the Medicare trust fund was scheduled to run out in 1999. We took steps to keep it strong until 2015. However, given the
fact that the number of people on Medicare is scheduled to double over the next few decades, Medicare will need additional resources to keep the trust fund strong for the future. That is why I have proposed devoting nearly $300 billion of the projected
budget surplus over the next 15 years to keep Medicare solvent for at least the next quarter century. I also believe we should strengthen Medicare by adding a prescription drug benefit to help Medicare beneficiaries pay for their medicines. My plan has
no deductible, and would eliminate cost-sharing and premiums for those living on low incomes. And it would provide additional support for those encountering catastrophic drug costs.
Source: Associated Press, in Brockton (MA) Enterprise, p. B6
Mar 1, 2000
George W. Bush:
Medicare Rx drug coverage for low-income seniors
Medicare is one of the most important contributions to seniors’ health care ever enacted. I will work to strengthen Medicare by enhancing its financial stability and ensuring seniors
have access to more comprehensive coverage better tailored to their health care needs. We now have an inefficient system that is run by a 132,000-page document where the
government makes all the decisions. I support increasing competition and giving seniors the right to choose their health care plans that include basic coverage such as prescription
drugs. We should also ensure prescription drug coverage is available for low-income seniors who otherwise cannot afford it.
Source: Associated Press, in Brockton (MA) Enterprise, p. B6
Mar 1, 2000
Orrin Hatch:
Reform Medicare by medical experts; more tax incentives
Medicare reform should be led by experts in that area, not politicians, Hatch said. Hatch would guarantee current benefits would not be cut for current enrollees and those nearly eligible for Medicare. Hatch’s proposal includes increased access to
long-term care, established standards for long-term care insurance policies & increased tax incentives for purchasing policies. He also proposes an income tax check off so donors can give money to the NIH for research on certain illnesses.
Source: Associated Press
Oct 16, 1999
Steve Forbes:
More Rx support, to avoid cross-border drug buying
In a speech in NH, Forbes said Americans shouldn’t have to cross the border to buy prescription drugs. Forbes said he was discouraged to hear that some New Hampshire residents go to Canada to buy prescription drugs at cheaper prices. If elected, he
promised a drug support system that would eliminate them to travel to Quebec for medicines.
Source: Associated Press
Oct 4, 1999
Mike Huckabee:
No additional AIDS spending; cancer & vascular victims first
At the present time, the per capita federal spending on AIDS is $15,450. That compares with $285 spent per capita on cancer victims, $33 per capita spent for victims of heart and vascular diseases, and $25 per capita spent on victims of diabetes.
In light of the extraordinary funds already being given for AIDS research, it does not seem that additional Federal spending can be justified.
Source: Associated Press Questionnaire for AR Senate Debate
Nov 1, 1992
Mike Huckabee:
Ban smoking in all public places
As a long-time sufferer from extremely sensitive allergies to tobacco smoke (I take an allergy shot each week for this condition), I would like to see smoking banned in public places, or at least a requirement that smoking cannot take place when it would
infringe upon the clean air of nonsmokers. For some of us, it is not a mere nuisance--it represents a very definite health threat. It should not be appropriate to indiscriminately blow toxic smoke on other people.
Source: Associated Press Questionnaire for AR Senate Debate
Nov 1, 1992
Mike Huckabee:
Isolate carriers of this plague of AIDS
If the federal government is truly serious about doing something with the AIDS virus, we need to take steps that would isolate the carriers of this plague.
Source: Associated Press Questionnaire for AR Senate Debate
Nov 1, 1992
Mike Huckabee:
Supports consumer-driven “medical IRA” with tax-free money
The proposal which would give people an opportunity to have a “medical IRA” in which tax-free money could earn interest to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses,
and the principal be used to purchase a catastrophic health insurance program, should be examined. Overall, I believe that the key is to create a more consumer-driven., less regulated situation.
Source: Responses to Associated Press Questionnaire for AR Senate
Nov 1, 1992
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